Running week-long project-based assignments is a really efficient way of providing work experience, says Christine Jenkins, MD of CCWorks. “That way, work experience achieves its goal without disrupting the workplace”.
CCWorks is running an award-winning work experience programme for Pfizer. In one of this year’s projects, the work experience students have been put into teams of four to design an ‘office of the future’, working with different key staff at Pfizer. The Kent students are able to hone different skills such as project management, team working and creative thinking. Each lunchtime the students have the opportunity to ask Pfizer volunteers about the world of work. The week concludes with a presentation of their project to a panel of teachers and Pfizer staff.
CCWorks project-manages the whole week. This includes devising, supervising and evaluating the project as well as recruiting Pfizer volunteers.
Feedback from all involved has been excellent, which led to Pfizer winning The Community Award from the Institute of Civil Engineers. Pfizer staff are very pleased with the programme as they are able to provide a valuable experience for the students without being unduly diverted from their work. And the students gain real work skills, rather than being parked at a desk for a week of photocopying!